A BLUE AND WHITE DOUBLE-GOURD 'DRAGON' VASE
Qianlong seal mark and of the period
The vase slightly flattened, the lower bulbous body painted on each side with a central shou medallion flanked by two writhing dragons issuing flaming scrolls, extending to the upper section and surrounding a pendent bat, the loop handles with floral scrolls trailing to the lower section and ending in a relief-moulded ruyi head. 18.7cm (7 3/8in) high.
Footnotes:
Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價

清乾隆 青花遊龍捧壽如意耳葫蘆瓶
青花「大清乾隆年製」篆書款

Provenance: Christie's London, 9 June 1997, lot 94
An important European private collection

來源: 倫敦佳士得，1997年6月9日，拍品編號94
歐洲重要私人收藏

Vases of this type are held in important museums and private collections worldwide. Compare with a very similar blue and white vase, Qianlong seal mark and of the period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum: Blue-and-white Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty II, Hong Kong, 1968, p.54, pl.17. Another similar blue and white vase, Qianlong seal mark and of the period, but without moulded handles, is illustrated in Treasures in the Royalty: The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p.277. See also a pair of similar vases, Qianlong seal marks and of the period, illustrated by P.Y.K.Lam, ed., Ethereal Elegance: Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing: The Huaihaitang Collection, Hong Kong, 2007, no.107.

Compare with a very similar blue and white 'dragon' vase, Qianlong seal mark and of the period, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 12 October 2021, lot 26, and another at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 9 October 2020, lot 3604.

One probably original hairline crack to neck beneath the glaze approximately 6mm long, firing imperfections to the interior visible through neck hole and polished areas to the foot, the longest approximately 18mm.